Accessibility Links

Taming the British bulldog

Winston Churchill was our wartime saviour. But he was also the cigar butt of cartoonists' jokes, says Godfrey Smith

May 15 2005, 1:00am, The Sunday Times

He drew Churchill from 1919, when Low arrived here from Australia, till age and infirmity assailed both men 40 years on. Low's mighty line was often critical and sometimes savage, but no cartoonist gave Churchill more unstinted backing during the war years. The respect and admiration he felt for Churchill was reciprocated — despite some bitter rows. Each recognised the streak of genius in the other.

The two had little in common. Churchill was born at Blenheim Palace, grandson of the Duke of Marlborough. Low was born in New Zealand, grandson of a Scottish marine engineer who had emigrated there. Moving to Australia, Low went to work on the Sydney Bulletin and made his way as one of Australia's leading cartoonists. He was totally at…